After debuting at the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells, in the United States, with victory, João Fonseca advanced to the third round of the tournament for the first time.
The 19-year-old Brazilian, 35th in the ATP rankings (Association of Professional Tennis Players), beat the Russian Karen Khachanov, number 16 in the world, this Saturday (7), by 2 sets to 1 — splits of 4/6, 7/6 (7) and 6/4.
In the next round of Indian Wells, Fonseca will face American Tommy Paul, 24th in the rankings, who defeated Belgian Zizou Bergs in the second round of the tournament.
The Brazilian tennis player beat fellow Belgian Raphael Collignon by 2 sets to 0 in the first match he played in this year’s edition of the competition.
This was the second time that Fonseca and Khachanov faced each other in ATP tournaments. In the first confrontation, in the third round of the Masters 1000 in Paris in 2025, the Russian beat the Brazilian by 2 sets to 1.
Khachanov has seven titles in his career, most notably the Masters 1000 in Paris in 2018, and reached eighth place in the world rankings. The Russian tennis player was also a silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics.
After ending 2025 in 24th position in the world rankings, Fonseca began the new season facing physical difficulties. He withdrew from participating in the Adelaide and Brisbane championships due to a chronic problem in his lower back and, with a performance below his usual level, he was eliminated in the debut of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam on the calendar, and the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires.
At the Rio Open, in February, he reached the round of 16 in singles, but was unable to get past Peruvian Ignacio Buse. In the doubles competition, he won the title alongside Brazilian Marcelo Melo.
This Saturday’s victory in Indian Wells is only his third in singles this year.
Last Sunday (1st), Fonseca won the MGM Slam, in Las Vegas, a tournament that is not part of the tennis circuit nor adds points in the world rankings.
